Flush valve handle assembly

ABSTRACT

A flush valve handle assembly includes a collar adapted to be attached to a flush valve body. There is an opening in the collar and a flush valve handle extends through the opening. A piston is movable within the collar and in contact with that portion of the flush valve handle extending through the opening. An operating rod is attached to and movable with the piston and is integral with a flexible diaphragm which is in sealing contact with the flush valve body. A spring member is attached to the pisotn and is effective to urge the operating rod and piston to a normally unoperated position.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to handle assemblies for use in flushvalves, or flushometers, as they are currently termed. The handleassembly is particularly useful with flush valves of the typemanufactured by Sloan Valve Company, assignee of the presentapplication, and sold under the trademark ROYAL.

A primary purpose of the present invention is a flush valve handleassembly for the use described which is simplified in construction andassembly and uses a minimum number of easily manufactured parts.

Another purpose is a flush valve handle assembly which has a positiveseal with the flush valve body, eliminating any possible leakage aboutthe handle assembly.

Another purpose of the invention is an operator assembly for use onplumbing products such as flush valves, faucets and the like whichutilizes a solid plastic spring and a rod integral with a flexiblediaphragm, which diaphragm forms a seal with the plumbing fixture bodyto prevent leakage around the operator assembly.

Other purposes will appear in the ensuing specification, drawing andclaims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The invention is illustrated diagrammatically in the attached drawingwhich is an axial section through a flush valve assembly.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

In the drawing, the flush valve has a generally hollow body 10, whichincludes an inlet opening 12, an outlet connection 14, and a handlecoupling connection 16. The flush valve is illustrated in detail incopending application Ser. No. 242,549, filed Sept. 12, 1988 andassigned to the assignee of the present application. The top of theflush valve body is closed by an outer cover 18 and an inner cover 20.The inlet portion of the valve is separated from the outlet portion by avalve seat 22 formed at the termination of an inwardly extending annularbody flange 24.

The valve is actuated by a handle assembly 25 which is fastened to thevalve body 10 by means of a coupling nut 28. The handle assemblyincludes a handle 26 having a rounded portion 30 positioned within anopening 32 in a handle cover or collar 34. Handle 26 has a flatactuating portion 36 which is positioned directly adjacent to a piston38 movable within the handle cover. Piston 38 has a peripheral wall 40which bears against the interior wall of handle cover 34. It has acentral socket 42 which receives the ball-like end 46 of a rod oractuator 48, thereby attaching piston 38 and rod 48.

Rod 48, which may be formed of a suitable flexible plastic material, isintegral with a diaphragm 50, which is flexible in both the longitudinaland radial planes of the rod. The diaphragm has sufficient flexure toaccommodate longitudinal and arcuate movement of rod 48 during operationof the flush valve. Diaphragm 50 has an outer flange 52 which isattached between the flush valve housing and the handle cover 34, thussealing the handle assembly to the flush valve body. The diaphragm isalso clamped against a flexible plastic spring 54. Spring 54 has acylindrical portion 56 which surrounds socket 42 of piston 38 and has anarcuate portion 58 which has an exterior groove 60 to receive a matingprojection on diaphragm 50. Thus, the diaphragm and its integral rod 48are clamped to spring 54 and are moved toward a flush valve operatingposition by force applied to piston 38 from the flush valve actuatinghandle 26.

Positioned within the flush valve body 10 is a diaphragm assemblyindicated generally at 60 which includes an annular flexible diaphragm62, having an enlarged portion 64 at its periphery which is held betweeninner cover 20 and an annular shoulder on the flush valve body.Diaphragm 62 may have one or more reinforcing rings 66 positionedintermediate the central area of the diaphragm and the enlarged portion64. The reinforcing rings may extend axially from both sides ofdiaphragm 62.

Integral with diaphragm 62 and a part of the diaphragm assembly 60 is abarrel 68. There is a bypass orifice 72 in the wall of barrel 68directly adjacent diaphragm 62 and a seal ring 74 extends about thebarrel in a groove 76, with the seal ring in part masking the bypassorifice, but permitting the passage of water therethrough.

Barrel 68 has a portion 78 of reduced diameter. On the inside of thebarrel there is a relief valve seat 80 formed at the top of the portionof reduced diameter 78. On the exterior of the barrel there is a smallgroove 82 which contains a seal ring 84 which closes upon valve bodyseat 22 when the flush valve is in the closed position of the drawing.The barrel may have a plurality of axially extending flow control slots86, if desired.

Positioned within barrel 68 is a relief valve 88 which has a stemportion 90 positioned for contact by actuating rod 48. The enlarged body92 of the relief valve has an outwardly extending support lip 94 whichhas a lower surface thereof positioned upon barrel relief valve seat 80when the flush valve is in the closed position of the drawing. Furtherdetails of the relief valve and its operation are described in theabovementioned copending application.

A tubular tailpiece 100 is connected to flush valve inlet 12 on one sideand is connected to a check stop 102 at the other end. The tubulartailpiece includes an inwardly directed annular curved recess 104 withinwhich is positioned a seal ring 106. The seal ring is sealingly engagedwith both the tubular tailpiece and the inner wall 108 of flush valveinlet 12. Flush valve inlet 12 has an arcuate seating surface 110 whichbears against the slanted wall 112 of the tubular tailpiece. The slantedwall joins the inwardly extending annular recess with an outwardlyextending annular projection 114 which limits the extent to which thetubular tailpiece can be inserted into the flush valve.

In order to secure the tubular tailpiece within the flush valve, thereis a retainer clip 116 which is generally U-shaped in construction andextends through slots 118 in the inner end 120 of the tubular tailpiece.Retainer 116 has a pair of legs 122, each of which has a bowed orarcuate section 124, and the retainer has an inwardly directed end 126which is positioned within the flush valve when the tubular tailpiece isinstalled.

A flexible diaphragm 127 is positioned within tailpiece 100 within theannular groove formed by projection 114. The diaphragm functions as aflow restriction in that it will limit the volume of water passing tothe flush valve.

The opposite end of the tubular tailpiece is connected to a cylindricalextension 130 of check stop 102 by means of a coupling nut 132. Theconnection includes a grip ring 134 which is positioned between an endof the coupling nut and an end of tubular extension 130. When the nut isthreaded onto extension 130, it compresses ring 134, which then bitesinto the exterior of the tubular tailpiece. A seal ring 136 ispositioned within a recess 138 of the tubular tailpiece and forms a sealbetween the tailpiece and the tubular extension 130 of the check stop.

The check stop is in the shape of an elbow and has an inlet connection140 with interior threads 142 to mount an inlet pipe 144. A sleeve 146having a central opening 148 has its outwardly extending annular flange150 mounted between the inner end of pipe 144 and seat 152 of the checkstop housing. Mounted for reciprocal movement within sleeve 146 is afinned poppet 154 which is normally biased to the closed position shownin the drawing by an internal spring 156. Poppet 154 has an end seat 158which is seated against a slanted annular surface 160 on the inwardlyextending flange of insert 146. There are outwardly extending guide fins162 on the poppet and when the poppet is moved away from inlet opening148 by water pressure, water flows around the check stop and toward theflush valve inlet.

An adjustable screw 164 is mounted in a threaded bore 165 in check stophousing 102. Removal of stud 166 provides access to the adjustmentscrew. Adjustment screw 164 extends within coil spring 156 and has aseal ring 168 to prevent leakage outwardly through the bore 165. Thereis an outwardly extending flange 172 on the adjusting screw which, inthe fully open position of the drawing, is seated against an annularshoulder 174 formed as a part of the check stop housing 102.

In the operation of the check stop, when adjustment screw 164 is in theposition shown, water pressure applied at the end of poppet 154 willcause the poppet to raise up away from its seat against the force ofspring 156, permitting water to flow into the flush valve housing. Anyback siphonage of water is prevented, as poppet 154 will immediatelyclose opening 148 if the pressure within the check stop is greater thanthat in the inlet line. If the check stop is to be closed or is toseverely throttle incoming water, the adjustment screw is turned afterremoval of stud 166 so as to compress coil spring 156, increasing thepressure required to open the check stop. Adjusting screw 164 is limitedin its outward movement by flange 172 and can be moved downward adistance to totally shut off flow through the check stop.

Incoming water, after it has passed the check stop, will flow into theflush valve and will normally seep through bypass orifice 72 into theupper chamber above the relief valve. Since the surface area subjectedto inlet water pressure is greater on the upper side of the diaphragmthan on the lower side, water pressure holds the diaphragm on seat 22and water pressure also holds the relief valve on barrel relief valveseat 80. When a user pivots handle 26 in any direction, it will causeinward movement of piston 38, which in turn will move rod 48 intocontact with the relief valve, causing the relief valve to tilt. Whenthe piston and its attached rod move in this manner, diaphragm 50 willflex in a longitudinal plane. The curved surface 58 of plastic spring 54will distort. Inward movement of piston 38 is limited by the compressionand distortion of the plastic spring and by contact between the exteriorflange 40 of the piston and the outwardly extending flange of plasticspring 54.

Inward movement, as described, of rod 48 tilts the relief valve whichhas the effect of unseating the relief valve from barrel seat 80 and, atleast in part, moving annular sealing lip 94 away from the interiorsurface of barrel 68. This relieves the pressure in the upper chamber ofthe flush valve and causes the diaphragm assembly, consisting of thediaphragm, barrel and relief valve, to raise up, thereby creating adirect connection between inlet 12 and outlet 14.

When the diaphragm assembly so moves, relief valve 88 will again closeon relief valve seat 80, closing off the upper chamber. Water seepingthrough orifice 72 will, in time, cause the diaphragm assembly to returnto the closed position of the drawing. This provides a measured volumeof water for flushing a toilet or urinal.

Even if handle 26 should be held in an operable position, the diaphragmassembly will still close upon body valve seat 80. The holding open ofthe handle assembly will maintain the position of piston 48 beneath thestem 90 of the relief valve, but there is sufficient radial flexure indiaphragm 50 such that the relief valve can return to its normal seatedposition.

When handle 26 is released, plastic spring 54 will return piston 38 toits normal open position, carrying push rod 48 with it.

The flush valve handle assembly is particularly desirable, as it issimple in construction and uses only a few easily molded plastic parts.The seal for the handle is provided by diaphragm 50 which is in firmsealing engagement with the flush valve housing. There is no possibilityof water leakage at the handle. Use of a plastic spring is highlydesirable and provides a handle assembly of extremely long life. Becausediaphragm 50 is flexible in both longitudinal and radial planes, itprovides for non hold-open operation of the flush valve. The reliefvalve will always return to its normally seated position even thoughhandle 26 is held in an open position.

Whereas the preferred form of the invention has been shown and describedherein, it should be realized that there may be many modifications,substitutions and alterations thereto.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows:
 1. An operator assembly foruse in operating a plumbing fixture such as a flush valve, including acollar adapted to be attached to a flush valve body, an opening in saidcollar, an operator having a portion extending through said collaropening, a piston movable within said collar and having a surfacethereof in contact with that portion of the operator which extendsthrough said opening, a rod attached to said piston and formed andadapted to operate the flush valve, a diaphragm attached to said rod ata location remote from said piston, said diaphragm being movable withsaid rod and in sealing contact with the flush valve body, spring meansurging said piston and rod to an unoperated position outwardly of theflush valve body, movement of said operator causing movement of saidpiston, rod and diaphragm inwardly toward the flush valve to causeoperation thereof.
 2. The operator assembly of claim 1 wherein said rodand diaphragm are integral and are formed of a material havingsufficient flexure so that said diaphragm flexes in a longitudinaldirection with movement of said rod.
 3. The operator assembly of claim 2wherein said diaphragm flexes in a plane radial to said rod duringmovement of the rod to operate a flush valve.
 4. The operator assemblyof claim 1 wherein said diaphragm has an outwardly extending flangesecured between facing surfaces of the flush valve body and the collar.5. The operator assembly of claim 1 wherein said piston has a centralsocket and said rod has a ball secured within said socket.
 6. Theoperator assembly of claim 1 further characterized in that said pistonhas an exterior wall in sliding contact with the interior of saidcollar.
 7. The operator assembly of claim 1 wherein said spring means isa solid flexible member having opposite ends thereof in contact withsaid diaphragm and piston.
 8. The operator assembly of claim 7 whereinsaid diaphragm has an outwardly extending flange, said spring meanshaving an outwardly extending flange, with the flanges of said springmeans and diaphragm being fixed between said collar and the flush valvebody.
 9. The operator assembly of claim 7 wherein said spring means hasan axially extending sleeve portion positioned about a cylindricalportion of said piston.
 10. A handle assembly for use in operating aflush valve, including a collar adapted to be attached to a flush valvebody, an opening in said collar and a flush valve handle having aportion extending through said collar opening, a piston movable withinsaid collar and having a surface thereof in contact with that portion ofthe handle which extends through the collar opening, a rod attached tosaid piston and formed and adapted to operate a flush valve, a diaphragmintegral with said rod and in sealing contact with the flush valve body,said diaphragm being flexible in planes radial to and longitudinal ofsaid rod, a solid flexible spring member having opposite ends thereofsecured to said piston and said diaphragm, said spring member urgingsaid piston and rod outwardly of the flush valve body, movement of saidhandle causing movement of said piston to move said rod and the flexiblediaphragm, with the rod moving to a flush valve operating position. 11.The handle assembly of claim 10 further characterized in that saidspring member and said diaphragm each have outwardly-extending flanges,which flanges are in contact with each other and with the collar andflush valve body, whereby the diaphragm and spring are secured to theflush valve body.
 12. An operator assembly for use in operating aplumbing fixture, including a collar adapted to be attached to aplumbing fixture, an opening in said collar, an operator having aportion extending through said collar opening, a piston movable withinsaid collar and having a surface thereof in contact with that portion ofthe operator which extends through said opening, an actuator attached tosaid piston and formed and adapted to operate a plumbing fixture, adiaphragm integral with said actuator and in sealing contact with theplumbing fixture, a solid flexible spring member having opposite endsthereof secured to said piston and said diaphragm, said spring membermoving said piston and actuator toward an unopened position, movement ofsaid operator causing movement of said piston, actuator and diaphragmtoward a position to operate the plumbing fixture.